Woodward identifies number one transfer target

Manchester United’s executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has identified his number one transfer target for the next transfer window – which opens in July.

According to the Mirror, the much-maligned board member who plays a major role in all transfer dealings at Old Trafford has his eyes set on one of the world’s brightest attacking talents; Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

John Cross writes that Woodward has a massive deal lined up for the African footballer of the year – who beat names such as Sofiane Feghouli, Yaya Toure and Andre Ayew to the award this year. Manchester United are willing to pay the Gabonese striker £200,000 per week to tempt him to Old Trafford before the start of next season – and that kind of money could certainly be necessary.

Six points adrift of the Champions League playoff place in the Premier League, United’s most realistic hope for qualification into Europe’s elite competition is perhaps to win the Europa League this season.

Aubameyang however would almost certainly be playing in the Champions League next season if he were to stay at Borussia Dortmund, who are pushing Bayern Munich hard for this season’s Bundesliga title.

Would an £800,000 per month pay packet tempt Aubameyang even without Champions League football? Woodward hopes so; he is ready to offer up at least £60 million as a transfer fee for the player, who is ever-so valuable to his current club.